Writing a personal statement for a Masters - struck dumb, nothing to say

[Wherethefuckismyselfworth]

Seriously irritated by this. I meet the course requirements as outlined by the university and am reasonably sure my referees will say nice enough things about me.

The reason I want to apply is I'm really excited by the course and what it will allow me to study, and the potential interesting openings it might lead to after.

I don't want to say what it is, but I feel really down on myself because I've no confidence. Wanting to get another qualification is something I've always wanted, and partly because I thought it would help boost my confidence.

But I feel like a fake. I'm disabled and ironically while I think this gives me valueable insight into this area, I can't really talk about it because then it just sounds amateurish.

Pissed off, and annoyed at myself. I'm trying to write about stuff that that really, really matters to me, and I sound insipid and thick as mince.

How can I fix this?

Writing in the first person does sometimes sound amateurish - I know what you mean. But they will want to know about you. "My experience with x has led to an interest in y, particularly the z".
"Encountering people's responses to my own disability has encouraged me to want to pursue..."
Maybe start with sentences that don't start with "I"?

Yes, that actually makes a lot of sense, thank you. I think all the "I" sentences are a big part of the problem!

You've written some good points in your OP. How many words does it need to be?

Point out to them that you're very qualified to do the course, and would bring a unique insight to it because of X, Y or Z.

Explain what you want to achieve through doing the course, and how it would improve your career choices and understanding of whatever it is you're going to study.

Remind them that you're a good person, and would pass the course because of your experience and prior learning.

Something like that?

The reason I want to apply is I'm really excited by the course and what it will allow me to study, and the potential interesting openings it might lead to after.
Wanting to get another qualification is something I've always wanted, and partly because I thought it would help boost my confidence.

So how come you can write a personal statement on here but not on your paper?

You need to demonstrate your genuine interest in the subject, i.e. what your motivation is for studying it and what you have done outside defined programmes of study that shows a genuine enthusiasm for it (rather than just a need to pass exams). In the case of a master's degree your motivation is likely to be the next step in your career but this isn't always the case. If the subject relates to disability - or inequality that is exacerbated by disability - have you done any volunteering, campaigning or social media activity relating to it?

Depending on the subject area, then being reflective on personal experience is not amateurish - it's absolutely essential! Yes, vary the sentence construction, but don't worry about you being in the application (assuming the course is related to social policy or similar) so long as you can demonstrate the ability to take a step back, and look at the wider social perspective. Demonstrating an insight into the time demands, course delivery etc is also worth including.

I've recently done the same and felt awful writing my statement. It's experience that counts more than anything. All you really need to do is answer these questions:

What makes you interested in this course?
What experience do you have in this area?
What do you want to do with this qualification after the course?

Best of luck!

Yes, I have done some volunteering related to it and also a little paid work.

But it reads like I'm just listing off anything and everything that I feel might be relevant. The more I stare at it the more I doubt I have anything relevant at all!

I'm worried I'll be found wanting against all the students who have done several internships, which I could never afford.

I am also just writing mine.... first four paragraphs all start with I - will re-think now @happygoldfinch - thanks.

I have covered my reasons for choosing this route and the course, the knowledge and skills already obtained via my current role that I can apply to this, my most important work experience and personal/professional developments, the challenges facing me and how I will overcome them and my future career plans.

All the best OP

I want this so much I'm almost sobbing with tension

Think I need a cup of tea. Thank you for all these ideas, going to sit down with a cuppa and go through both the suggestions, and my personal statement as it is now, and methodically try to edit it into stronger shape.

Bear in mind that it doesn't really matter what you write - they want your money, if you're remotely suitable they'll accept you! I was panicking when I was in your position but a friend pointed this out to me & he was right (though it does take the shine off it a bit when they say yes!!)

Haha, is that really true?

When I phoned to ask a question, they warned me they had had a lot of applications and to get mine in soon. So I think there's a demand.

I'm not expecting to get a place, but definitely want to give it my best try.

Hi OP, I'm an academic, used to be involved in Masters admissions for my dept, so have read a lot of personal statements. Things to include, in this kind of order:
1.Your academic interest in the programme for which you are applying - why you want to study this subject, which bits of the programme particularly interest you and why.

1. Why this particular programme at this particular university? What has attracted you to it compared with other similar programmes elsewhere?
2. Your previous academic experience and how it links to the Masters programme (have you already studied in this area and want to pursue it in more depth? Is this a completely new subject for you and, if so, which areas of knowledge/which skills acquired on your BA/BSc will be useful for this MA?)
3. Relevant non-academic experience in the subject area
4. What you want to afterwards (if related to the MA - but don't bother mentioning this if not - no point in applying to do astrophysics and telling them your life goal is to become a ceramic artist, for example).

Good luck!

Good luck to everyone else writing their applications at the moment too.

Is this for this September? I didn't realise applications were still going on.

They are still open in quite a few universities, but there's no time to dilly dally.

I found a few examples online when I was looking. They helped with ideas for phrasing and structure.

Mines for January. @fatherbuzzcagney thanks for the tips!

Good luck all

Oh for fuck's sake - my whole application form has been wiped blank. Despite saving as I went along. What the actual fuck???

I put in all the factual details to get all those sections completed, so I would just have to upload the PS once it's finished. Now they're all gone. Maybe this is a sign it's not for me...

Spent ages fact checking all those details so I felt safe everything was double and triple checked and now feel all rushed and shite. For fuck's sake. Why did it all fucking disappear.

All fields suddenly reappeared filled in again now

Good luck

When I was writing mine I pretended as much as possible I was writing it for someone else, a friend - helped me overcome a bit of the mental block around writing for myself / about me

Print it off or save as a pdf as you go.

It does feel weird, I'm doing a PhD in a very personal topic and that's part of why I'm doing it so that's what went in my equivalent statement thingy when I applied. Being passionate and personally invested is a good thing.

Make sure you don't go over any word limit!

Good luck.